Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Guangzhou: Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic insists the 2014 winners bow out of the AFC Champions League with their heads held high after Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Group H winners Guangzhou Evergrande was not enough to keep the A-League side’s title defence alive.
Mark Bridge and 2014 final winner Tomi Juric scored the goals at a damp Tianhe Sport Centre Stadium as Western Sydney claimed a 2-0 win having lost 3-2 at home to the 2013 champions at home earlier in the group stage.
But despite handing the Chinese Super League champions a second defeat of the campaign, FC Seoul’s last-gasp 3-2 win over Kashima Antlers in Japan took the K-League Classic side through to the last 16 at the expense of Western Sydney.
Match report: Guangzhou Evergrande 0-2 Western Sydney
“We won 2-0 at Guangzhou and we couldn't qualify. It is such a strange feeling. Unfortunately another game's result was not ideal for us, but tonight we showed the quality of an ACL champion,” said Western Sydney coach Popovic, who led then debutants Western Sydney to Australia’s first AFC Champions League victory last year after beating Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal 1-0 on aggregate in the final.
“We had confidence and faith in this game and we made it.
“Our home results were not good enough. We gained seven points from the away games, but only one at home.
“Of course we are in a tough group, and the game tonight showed our capacity.”
Guangzhou had already secured a fourth consecutive appearance in the Round of 16 as Group H winners following last month’s draw with FC Seoul and will play the runner-up from Group F in this month’s Round of 16.
“I am not satisfied with the result, but happy with the fighting spirit and effort in the game. The result didn't reflect the process,” said Guangzhou coach Fabio Canavarro.
“We were in a tough group and qualified with one round left and I am very happy with it. We've been through lots of change this season and overcame many difficulties, but still we managed to qualify as the winner of the group.
“The teams are from different countries with different football style. The Australians are physically better and good at long passes. Japanese is my favorite style of football, they are very technically advanced. The toughest opponent was the Korean team, they were mentally strong.
“But at last I think if we can show our quality, we can decide the result. We should focus on ourselves in every match.”
Photo: WSG